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Brownfields 2008
Grant Fact Sheet
Reading, OH
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders to work together to
prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse
brownfields. Abrownfield site is real property, the
expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be
complicated by the presence or potential presence of a
hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On
January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed
into law the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under this law, EPA
provides financial assistance to eligible applicants
through four competitive grant programs: assessment
grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and
job training grants. Additionally, funding support is
provided to state and tribal response programs through
a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The City of Reading was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Located in the industrial-
ized Mill Creek Valley, Reading (population 11,292) is
an inner-ring suburb of Cincinnati. Historically, the
economy of the city focused on manufacturing. Within
the past 10 years, Reading's largest employer relocated
one of its divisions, resulting in the loss of more than
600 jobs and more than $500,000 in tax revenues.
Between 2002 and 2006, the total number of busi-
nesses in the city declined more than 26 percent. The
currently vacant former Nivison-Weiskopf Facility is
located in the center of a low-income neighborhood
and next to a thriving business park. Cleanup of the
site is expected to prevent petroleum contamination
from affecting human health and nearby properties.
Once cleanup is complete, the City of Reading plans to
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Reading for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Petroleum grant funds
will be used to clean up the 11.7-acre former
Nivison-Weiskopf Facility at 601 Third Street. The
site, developed around 1900, housed a corrugated
box company and a glass-making factory. In recent
years, it was used for automobile repair and parts
distribution. Site soil and groundwater are con-
taminated with petroleum products.
Contacts
For further information, including specific grant
contacts, additional grant information, brownfields
news and events, and publications and links, visit
the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/
brownfields.
EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields
Grant Recipient: City of Reading, OH
513-733-3725
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. The cooperative
agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti-
ated. Therefore, activities described in mis fact
sheet are subject to change.
redevelop the site to facilitate the expansion of the
adjacent biotechnology laboratory complex. Redevel-
opment is expected to create jobs and attract invest-
ment to the area.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-08-217
July 2008
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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